Into Beijing

We drove into Beijing today. It was like spending a week lost in a forest and then finding yourself at the all-familiar home sweet home. Beijing looked a lot like an American city. To the point where, after being here for a mere day, I have already multiple times forgotten I was half way around the globe. But there's always something there to remind you that it isn't America. Mostly just the writing.

The three of us walked into a McDonalds today and Aleck pulled out his credit card. "Back to civilization at last!" I cried. Vanderdecken12 and I gave Aleck our orders and he walked up. Aftuer a couple minutes, however, he came back,
"My credit card has been tagged for a criminal record."
"I've got cash." VD12 reached into his pocket and pulled out the rest we had; five dollars and thirty cents.
"Do you understand what this means?" Aleck asked.
"Uhhh, Ben has to hack into the credit card company?"
"No, this means we can't even go to America for help."
"Are you saying Ben doesn't have to hack into the credit card company?"
"He still does, but I-,"
"Would you rather us survive off five bucks until Thanksgiving?"
"Perhaps you do not know the significance of this fact."
"Perhaps not. Care to explain?"
"It means..."
"It means I have to hack into the Chinese government to change our record before the 26th, or else 17 million people will die."
"Essentially," Aleck nodded, "Ben is correct."
"And on another note," VD12 added, "we've got to find a place to eat before the police get here. Ben, how long until we get our credit card back?"

So yeah, it goes on. Tomorrow, we get to meet the people who might tell us where the bomb is, but that info is useless we have the law enforcement to stop it.